Less of Rick Perry pay raise now going to charity

Gov. Rick Perry is keeping much more of that $35,000 pay raise state lawmakers gave him a few years ago, when he said he would decline the extra pay.

Perry made good on that promise when he donated $34,988 to charity in 2008, according to his tax return – on top of the $2,850 he gave to church that year.

Lawmakers boosted the governor’s pay from $115,000 to $150,000 during the 2007 legislative session.

At the time Perry spokesman Robert Black said Perry would not accept any of the extra $35,000, noting that Perry persuaded the Senate to insert language letting him reject all or part of the raise.

“He hasn’t taken a pay raise and doesn’t think its necessary,” Black said at the time.

In an email to the Austin American-Statesman last year, Perry spokeswoman Katherine Cesinger wrote: “The governor did not seek a pay raise, but the Texas Legislature authorized an increase from $115,000 to $150,000 in 2007 and 2009. Since that time, he has only taken home about $115,000 each fiscal year and has donated the rest to charity.”

After giving his entire $35,000 pay raise to charity in 2008, Perry contributed $20,000 of his raise to charity in 2009 and gave nothing of his pre-raise income to church or charity.

According to Perry’s 2010 tax return, which he released 10 days ago, the governor gave $12,500 to church and other charities from his adjusted gross income of $217,447.

Perry spokeswoman Allison Castle emphasizes her boss did not seek the pay raise.

“Since the Legislature authorized an increase from $115,000 to $150,000 the governor has taken home on average less than $115,000 each fiscal year after charitable contributions,” she said.

To comply with the pledge, Perry should donate about $27,000 of the $35,000 pay raise – roughly the amount of the pay raise after taxes, according to a certified public accountant who looked at Perry’s tax returns.

“The governor has given more than $70,000 to charity over the past three years and after charitable contributions has taken home on average less than $115,000 each fiscal year,” Castle said.

Perry’s adjusted gross income over that three-year period was $695,484, according to his tax records. His charitable contributions totaled $70,569, accord to tax returns.

In 2007, Perry reported an adjusted gross income of $1.1 million – and $413 in cash contributions to charity.